ABILITIES Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

abilities

noun

plural of ability

as in capabilities

the physical or mental power to do something as a result of the accident the once-vigorous athlete lost the ability to walk

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of abilities Social comparison is the psychological process by which people assess themselves, including their own abilities, opinions, and achievements, in relation to those of others. — Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026 For those who don’t want to flex their arithmetic abilities, the Bulls lost this game by 43 points. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Yet these were two of baseball’s better offenses — a testament to their abilities to get on base and win via small ball. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026 Make the hiring process more available by welcoming people of all abilities into internships or job training programs. — John Gill, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 Delving deeper into the podcast’s concept that consciousness may extend beyond the brain, the Telepathy Tapes film explores the profound abilities of nonspeakers with autism. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 The story will follow a pair of spies who are chasing targets who have special abilities, sources tell Deadline. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 The program welcomes runners of all abilities in fourth through eighth grades with options for high school students too. — Donald Fountain, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 After three months, their cognitive abilities improved to levels comparable to those of middle-aged adults. — Julia Eskins, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abilities

Noun

Those capabilities could help address a persistent challenge in counter-drone warfare.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
The Pentagon is building weapons and projects with artificial intelligence capabilities that officials say don't always closely adhere to the agency's own guidelines for AI, according to a congressional watchdog report published in October.

— Chiara Eisner, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of capabilities

Noun

Ukraine has gotten very good at drone warfare, employing these little robots both in offensive and defensive capacities.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026
These are precisely the capacities organizations rely on when employees are being asked to learn new systems, reconsider priorities, navigate ambiguity and make decisions in unfamiliar circumstances.

— Shahrzad Jalali, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of capacities

Noun

The Basketmaker—whose skills go far beyond furniture making—weaves her a match, Fiddler on the Roof-like, and the Fisherwoman, after an awkward matrimonial moment, takes Wicker Husband home to her funky little cottage.

— Valerie Monroe, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026
After Charlie left Analog World, his mother followed right after him into the box, but her navigation skills prove not to be as true.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of skills

Noun

After multiple visits to Boise State, Favors decided to bring his talents to the Treasure Valley and seemingly rejuvenate a wide receiver room in need of an overhaul.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026
The pair are generational talents in the world of professional hockey and sworn on-ice rivals, who meet as teenagers.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of talents

Noun

The latest frontier model, with apparent human-level faculties, had gone rogue – displaying dangerous, even devious online behaviors.

— Michael Serazio, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
The search for diversity While college faculties have become more racially diverse since the 1970s, the diversification of the faculty has not kept pace with changes in the college student population.

— Rodney Coates, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of faculties

Noun

For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 May 2026
This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.

— GRACIA LIU-FARRER, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025

Definition of aptitudes

Noun

That, to me, raises the question of how universities should build the human competencies such as deep thinking, analytical reasoning, judgment, and taste.

— Matt vandenBerg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The organization never really tested their ability to demonstrate competencies and skills for the new job, just their ability to manage their previous responsibilities.

— Christina Greenberg, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of competencies

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“Abilities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abilities. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of abilities

noun

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